The 8th and 9th of September saw the first AlpKit event to be held at Canolfan Tryweryn, North Wales.
The freestyle was the first event to kick off on the Saturday morning, unfortunately I was pre-registered as Rick (fellow SquareRock paddler) and I were providing safety cover for the event - which meant that I had bib number one. So I was first up on the wave, which I neither liked or had paddled more than twice. But there was a good crowd, all very willing to cheer me on as they weren't tired or concerned about their own runs that were to come later in the day. All three runs went pretty well and as it was a "best two count" format, I was perfectly happy to be consistent if not the big move man.
To my surprise, about an hour later I had made the semi-finals which I was really pleased about as it was my first comp for nearly a year and first time out in my all new Jackson All-star. So off I went again to do my best and once again I stuck my moves, playing it fairly safe. Despite my grandparents arriving mid-way through my second run and my sister telling me so over the stereo system!
In all honesty, thinking my job was done and the comp was over for me, I went for lunch with my Nain and Taid. Sat in the cafe, Rick came in and said "Your only bloody third - you made the finals". I nearly choked on my panini and chips (a true athlete's food).
The finals came around in the knockout style and I made it through two rounds, taking me right up to third which was amazing! I was quiet happy to have made the semi-finals. It seems on a feature that caused a few blow outs I paddled consistently, coming third in both rounds.
Results of Expert Men were:
1st - Chris Chapman
2nd- Stu Parry (junior)
3rd- Me (Jonathan Davies)
While in Expert Ladies, my sister (Lowri Davies) fresh back from the Four Borders Expedition took first place with Molly Crisp and Emily Wall taking second and third respectively. Team SquareRock were pretty chuffed to take top three in both men's and women's!
Day Two was the downriver race/boater-x which was held down at Bala Mill Falls. This was the event Rick and I were providing safety as despite being easy if you get it right, it could inflict some painful injuries if a paddler did capsize on the drop, which in the heat of a race can easily happen. This event also went well for me, as I progressed through to the semis once more, only to be destroyed by fellow SquareRock paddler Chris Chapman - mainly due to my bad choice of line when trying to overtake him. Never mind.
Entertainment also came from watching the "Speeder Challenge", where six fools agreed to paddle from the centre to below Bala Mill - one pinning at the top of the falls, capsizing and eventually swimming at the bottom of the falls.
A wicked weekend was had by all and everyone left smiling with loads of prizes. Well done AlpKit for a top event!
